Red Hook Justice
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
Each year, our nation's courts process over 11 million low-level crimes, many of which involve repeat offenders. In 2000, an experimental court opened its doors in Red Hook, Brooklyn-a neighborhood plagued by a cycle of unemployment, poverty and crime. This new court seeks to stop the cycle of crime, and heal the surrounding community. It is at the center of a legal revolution-the community justice movement.
Over the course of nearly two years, the filmmakers were granted unique access to film the daily activities of the Red Hook Community Justice Center, a pilot project in Brooklyn that houses a court and an array of social services. RED HOOK JUSTICE takes an in-depth look at the defendants and staff who are part of this experiment.
This is a court that wants to give offenders a second chance. Before resorting to jail, the Red Hook judge mandates extensive drug treatment, job training and community service. But it's no easy way out. The Justice Center has an unprecedented involvement in defendants' lives, and cases that would be closed quickly in traditional courts can extend over many months.
RED HOOK JUSTICE focuses on the dramatic stories of three Red Hook defendants and a handful of staffers at the Center. As the cases unfold, we see that the theories behind community justice and the reality of this new court are rarely in synch. The cameras capture intense vérité scenes of intake interviews in the Center's holding cells, arraignments and other court proceedings, heated staff interactions, community meetings, counseling sessions, and other day-to-day workings of the Justice Center.
Characters include: Anthony and Michael, orphaned teen brothers who fight to resist the pull of the streets; Letitia, a heroin addict who struggles to kick the habit when she gets pregnant; Leroy, a court officer who grew up in the Red Hook housing projects; Brett, a dedicated Legal Aid attorney who wonders if the new court helps or hurts his clients; and Judge Calabrese, who takes a hands-on approach with defendants.
(See Link Below for Additional Info on Characters)
The story of RED HOOK JUSTICE resonates far beyond Brooklyn. Today there are dozens of similar courts opening throughout the United States.
'An inspiring production about an innovative and reasonable community justice program [and] a useful and valuable learning aid.'-The Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture Review
'Absolutely outstanding! [It] was able to capture the true essence of what makes a community court tick. One is able to become part of the process, go behind the scenes and get a real sense of the daily lives of all of all of those involved in the court. For anyone interested in learning more about the changing face of the America's courts, this documentary is a must-see!'-David Bookstaver, Communications Director, New York State Court System
'Important, engaging... An essential resource for anyone involved the justice system.'-Marty Beyer, Ph.D., Psychologist and Juvenile Justice/Foster Care Consultant
'Very good! RED HOOK JUSTICE offers the promise of addressing complex problems in humane and practical ways. It's a story that needs to be heard in every community.'-Marc Mauer, Asst Director, The Sentencing Project
'Should be seen by all Judges, politicians, prosecutors, and the public as it reveals that an alternate form of addressing law-breaking behavior by examining its roots IS possible.'-Tanya Krupat, Former Director of the NYC Children of Incarcerated Parents Program
'Highly Recommended! This carefully pieced together program offers a clear explanation of how the Red Hook Community Justice Center works, as well as providing an inside study into actual cases which play out on the screen before us.'-Educational Media Reviews Online
'Inspiring! Can easily shepherd students and others into discussions on 'the larger question of what we need beyond the Justice Center,' and how the balance between 'personal and societal responsibility' can best be achieved.'-Charles S. Lanier, Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Center School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany
'Remarkable! A beacon of hope for those of us who care about justice.'-New York Sun
'An important contribution to the dialogue on criminal justice and the creation of useful solutions.'-Professor Jill Soffiyah Elijah, Criminal Justice Institute, Harvard Law School
'Touching and truthful... It dramatically presents the difficulties and promise of new efforts by American courts to help individuals turn their lives around and solve community problems with sensitivity.'-Deborah Botch, Chief of Budget Operations, Office of Court Administration, New York State Unified Court System
'If Steven Bochco is shopping around for new drama material now that 'NYPD Blue' is gone, he should catch RED HOOK JUSTICE.'-The New York Daily News
Citation
Main credits
Spadola, Meema (film producer)
Spadola, Meema (film director)
Spadola, Meema (screenwriter)
Byard, Eliza Starr (screenwriter)
Hamilton, Lisa Gay (narrator)
Other credits
Director of photography, Justin Schein; editor, David Moore; original music, Ethan Stoller.
Distributor subjects
Adolescence; African-American Studies; American Studies; Closed Captioned; Criminal Justice; Education; Family Relations; Law; Race and Racism; Urban Planning and Design; Urban StudiesKeywords
WEBVTT
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[music]
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He is saying that you hit him in the face
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with a glass cup and that you caused
him to have a cut on his lip.
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You gotta maintain… you gotta
maintain your (inaudible),
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you have to maintain your body to keep it clean. You gotta
maintain a lot of things and you also gotta maintain (inaudible).
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This is a community court and we, you
know, we should treat the community
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with a lot… lot more respect and,
you know, we would give them.
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Good man. So how are you doing?
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I don’t believe that traditional prosecution makes any
sense anymore. I don’t think it has the more relevance.
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It’s clear to me that you have a choice
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that I’m gonna tell you what’s gonna happen. The drug users
are gonna get treatment, the drug dealers are going to jail.
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This court is here to stay the Red Hook
Community Justice Center is here to stay.
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I’ve been in the justice system for 20 years and
I finally feel that I have a chance to really
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get to the problem that caused the person to come in
front of me. So if you get yourself on the right track,
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then you’re not looking at any further jail on this case. And… and
you’re looking at doing something productive. We’re here to help you.
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[sil.]
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In 2000, an experimental court opened
its doors in Red Hook, Brooklyn,
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a neighborhood played by
cycle of unemployment,
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poverty and crime. Each year our
nation’s courts process over
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11 million low-level crimes. Many of
which are committed by repeat offenders.
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The Red Hook Community Justice Center
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takes a new approach to these crimes.
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This court is at the center of a legal
revolutions, the Community Justice Movement.
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Hey, I don’t want any more excuses anymore. I
don’t want, you know, what happened was this,
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you know, what happened was this… Red Hook is a radically
different experience for defendants like Anthony Ward, age 17.
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Anthony lives with his grandmother
in the Red Hook Housing Projects.
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He has been charged with
marijuana possession.
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Do you know if you get a criminal record in New York,
it’s a criminal record for the rest of your life?
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You know, everyone has certain choices in life. Here,
we make an effort to help those that wanna be help.
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And if you decide not to get any help,
well, I mean, I hate to tell you,
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but there’s somebody else downstairs probably right now whose gonna be
coming up here, if you don’t wanted to go the way the criminal record then,
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I gotta see some efforts.
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There is a population that
comes into the courts,
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we don’t go out looking for business. Right,
I’ll see at (inaudible), right? All right. Okay.
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We can be part of the solution, not just part of
the problem because we are part of the problem,
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the courts are part of the problem. Anthony has
a number of prior arrests for minor offenses.
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Most courts would give him community service
or a small fine for the current charge
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and sent him on his way. What
brought me here is the bad stuff
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I was doing on the streets, all
negative stuff. It was all about me
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and I always thought that the
streets would (inaudible).
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No matter what trouble, trouble is trouble. And
it’s easy to get in, but it’s hard to come up.
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At Red Hook, Anthony has been
sentence to job training,
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drug counseling, life skills
classes and community service.
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If he completes the sentence, the case will be dismissed.
If not, he faces jail time and a criminal record.
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Prison is no joke. I’m
(inaudible) been there
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or (inaudible) on the rock,
but if you been there,
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you know (inaudible) and
the judge is (inaudible).
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And I’m saying don’t put a bullet in a system’s gun because I’m
telling you, I guarantee you, it’ll shoot you. We do wrong…
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There’s a lot of different versions of
community justice out there in the world.
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Community Justice Center in Red
Hook is a particular example.
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It’s… it’s built around the idea of individual
accountability. And it’s true that the idea
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uh… we’re gonna offer people a chance and if they don’t take it,
that’s their problem. As it seemed like a very straightforward
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and it’s a kind of a classic fair deal.
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But it’s like in the context of such an unfair
deal. You say to a young man in Red Hook,
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get a job and earn a living and they say by the
way the best you can do is sub welfare income.
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Say to a kid stay clean of drugs. Then you
say by every time you leave your house,
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you’re gonna walk by somebody who
is wanting to sell you drugs.
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Any individual who grows up
in Red Hook that person has
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little ability to have any
impact on those problems.
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How are you doing today? Fine. Okay. Uh…
You know, what they’re charging with you?
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No. Okay. You’re saying that,
yesterday at about 05:37 PM
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on Eighth Avenue in (inaudible) Street that you had a crack
pipe on you. Yeah. You have been to this court, have you? Yeah,
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this court is a lot different than courts you’re used to, okay?
Yeah. And… Brett Taylor is a public defender at Red Hook.
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You guys, ready? He handles over
a hundred minor cases at a time,
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guiding clients to the services
at the Justice Center.
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This court is setup with one goal
in mind and that’s to get help
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for people that want to help.
What I’ve proposed is
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uh… something that is not a criminal charge
would be what’s considered a violation,
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okay. Like along the line of distorted conduct. Uh… What you have
to keep in mind is we’re not looking at serious charges here.
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These are all misdemeanor charges we’re dealing with. These
are people who are just when I consider the fringe people in…
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in the criminal justice system. Brettt Taylor,
I’m your attorney. I think you have a word.
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Do I. They said you were?
Prostitution. Yes.
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Tracy Burns is a heroin addict,
arrested for prostitution.
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Defendants brought to the justice centers
holding cells, see accounts to first
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to find out what services they may need. Then
they see one of the centers legally defenders.
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Here they face a choice; a guilty plea
and a sentence of social programs
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and community service, or a trial and the possibility
of jail time. Uh… What do you wanna do here?
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(inaudible). Okay. (inaudible).
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(inaudible) won’t happen. Have you ever been arrested
here? No. Okay. So clinic is upstairs and they try
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and give people the help that they need…
If you don’t have a system like this
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that is trying to offer the help, trying to give the help,
a lot of times these people are just gonna be warehoused,
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they’re gonna be in jail for 30
days and then a judge is gonna say,
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’We’ll give you time served.’ And the person don’t take it, they’re gonna walk out of
jail and they’ll go right back into the environment, put them there in the first place.
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They’re gonna want to talk to you. They’re gonna wanna
determine whether or not they think any detox, okay.
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I just want to see if you’re interested in that,
if I them down here. Oh, I don’t want it…
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Okay. So our options probably
gonna be a lot less than.
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They probably gonna either offer you
a jail sentence or (inaudible).
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(inaudible). Okay. My (inaudible)
straight legal work here now.
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But if I haven’t addressed the
problem that brought that case here,
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that guy’s gonna come right back next week or
maybe tomorrow. Oh, wait, they just wanna… Oh!
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(inaudible) Make sure you know what’s going on. Yeah. What? I’m gonna
get the detox (inaudible). I’m gonna go get these papers (inaudible).
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(inaudible) sure. Go back to jail. For who
long? Ninety days. Okay. Up to 90 days.
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That’s easy for you do to, right? Yeah.
That’s easy. Jail is easy…
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(inaudible) I think seven years. So…
(inaudible) 90 days in there (inaudible).
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I know. (inaudible), right? Do even mind?
Okay. Okay. I’d like to see you…
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These are people facing 90 days. How you gonna
tell them, they have to do an 18-month program.
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In my class I’ve rap sheets (inaudible) know
this, they gonna tell me to screw myself.
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[sil.]
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Tracy disappears into the streets and
does not return on Monday to enter detox.
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Judge Alex Calabrese issues
a warrant for her arrest.
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[sil.]
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Judge Calabrese requested his
assignment to the Justice Center.
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Before coming to Red Hook, he presided over a range of
criminal cases in Brooklyn’s overburden downtown court.
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Traditional courts don’t
have the time to spend
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on the possession of one glass inherit when they’re flooded
with these cases. Here, the charges are less serious
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umm… than the murders, and the
rape and robbery charges,
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but if we can deal with the misdemeanor, we may
be reducing the higher crimes from occurring.
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I want you to do is conditions
of release, job readiness,
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the life choices group that’s April
5th and the marijuana group, okay. Th
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e Justice Department is definitely watching
to tell whether Red Hook can be successfully
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implemented in other jurisdictions.
It’s very important for us
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to show that this is not only a successful project in Red Hook,
but this is something that they can put all over the country.
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Red Hook is one of New York
City’s most troubled communities,
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isolated from the rest of Brooklyn by a
massive expressway and the New York Bay.
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Almost 80% of Red Hook’s
children live without one
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or both of their birth parents and the neighborhood is dominated
by one of the largest public housing projects in New York.
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Red Hook has seen government
programs come and go.
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The Community Justice Center
promises a new kind of partnership,
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engaging residents in regular open meetings. Justice Center
staffs seek to give the community a voice in shaping its goals.
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Uh… Well, thank you for
coming to Justice Center.
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Umm… Just about anyone I recognize in
the community meetings that we go to.
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I just would like to know
how sincere you guys are
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in really trying to tackle this problem because
it’s been said a number of years before you guys
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got here that jobs gonna get taken care,
we gonna do this, we gonna do ABC
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and nothing continues to have. The other thing
is the drug vials or the crack vials all around
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and we know it’s ours, you know, friendly
neighborhood (inaudible) uh… and clientele…
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Is it gonna take some period of time.
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Yes, it gonna take some period of time, but I think with this
communication, you really have an effective tool to deal with it.
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Oh, realistically we’re still losing our case. We can sit here and
talk all the day to (inaudible) face, but we still losing our case.
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We’re coming here to assist that’s
exactly what we’re (inaudible) to do,
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but we’re not like coming in and saying we’re gonna, you
know, solve your problems, we’re gonna tell you what do you.
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Everyone in this room has done more work in this community
than I am basically. And I think together we can solve.
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And I think it’s that communication Mr.
(inaudible). I like what you say, \"We.\"
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When you try systematically engage what a community that has a
lot of crime problems and has a lot of other social problems.
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What that community is asking for?
You get a nuanced answer.
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Of course, they want people who are
breaking the law to be arrested,
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but they also want you to stop
harassing their brothers and cousins.
00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:14.999
They want the drug deals on
the streets to be stopped,
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but they want the kids who are involved in the drug prompt to get
jobs. they also want to have business move into their neighborhoods.
00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.999
These residents are
really hungry for access
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to the formal cloud of the… the legal
system to help them solve their problems.
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Uh… So what’s up? Wednesday I go to
cook, Monday I come see (inaudible).
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(inaudible) see me. No, I know. No, I can’t
(inaudible) with you, you know that. Right.
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I might go stand (inaudible).
Whatever you do,
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just make sure you’d be safe, all right? You would
be careful at, okay? (inaudible) all right.
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See you later. (inaudible) all right.
00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:59.999
Leroy Davis is a court officer in Red Hook.
Like many of the Justice Center staff,
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he requested the placement and hopes to make a difference in
the community. I know Red Hook (inaudible) probably Red Hook.
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I left the project in 69
when I went to the military.
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So I have been gone awhile. I’ve
been gone a long while out of here.
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Right up here, that’s my bedroom, that’s
the living room and that’s the kitchen.
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That’s where… that’s where we lived,
right up here in the sixth floor.
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It just never (inaudible) to amaze me
that… that I’m back here, you know,
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it seems like I’m walking in the same
footsteps I walked and growing up…
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The Justice Center we open up officially was
April 2000. And at the time it was like, listen,
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I’ve got to be part of that.
I got to be part of it.
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Uh… Is where I grew up at. What’s up man?
Well, this is a community corner.
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We should, you know, we should treat the community with
a lot more respect than you normally would give them.
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How’re you doing? I’ll tell you what I can
do the best I can to make sure somebody kids
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here tried to get some of the positive
things at this Justice Center.
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Uh… I’m hoping that this thing works out.
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I really uh… we need this…
we need this (inaudible).
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Anthony’s case is still open
00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.999
and he started to fall short of the requirements of his sentence.
He’s missed some of the mandated appointment at the justice Center.
00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:29.999
His grandmother is getting frustrated.
00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:34.999
Grandma!
00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:39.999
When Anthony was ten, his father was murdered,
month later his mother died in childbirth
00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.999
and he came to live with his grandmother.
00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:49.999
Anthony, where did you go? Anthony is the
middle child of 11 brothers and sisters.
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Two of his older brothers are in prison.
00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:59.999
He dropped out of school more than a year
ago and hasn’t had a steady job since.
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I know what to do, but
I’ll tell you one thing.
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I know who to be hang around. You don’t
want the name of it, don’t hang around.
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I don’t hang around nobody (inaudible).
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I hang out with guys like who got jobs, grandma. I’m
the one who don’t got a job and that’s (inaudible).
00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:24.999
Tony and Danny, they got a job.
00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:29.999
Great numbers, great (inaudible). Not
definitely on the table, go. (inaudible).
00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:34.999
No. Go that way. Don’t
do that… don’t do that.
00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:43.000
[sil.]
00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:59.999
They just wanna update your case. Get in front of the judge now,
they’ll say you could see how you’re doing just because of the…
00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:04.999
Lutetia Sanchez who sends to drug treatment in the
Red Hook Court. I need an update of this case, okay.
00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:09.999
She was charged with criminal trespass while
trying to buy heroin. Shortly after her arrest,
00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.999
she got pregnant, but continued to use. Now
she’s in a methadone maintenance program.
00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:19.999
…just because if the baby comes and you can make it
to court the next month or so like that. Right, okay.
00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:24.999
You know, he knows what’s going on, you know. Okay.
Uh… I know you’re doing the outpatience program.
00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:29.999
Yes, I am. How many days are you going?
Everyday.
00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:34.999
And when you do? They told me right
after the 24th or on that day.
00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:39.999
So maybe this week I’m having
because I’m clean now.
00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:44.999
That’s why I’m happy too.
And that’s what it’s about.
00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:49.999
I was very scared when I first
got arrested. I was very afraid.
00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:54.999
I didn’t know what (inaudible). I was
like, ‘Oh, my God! That’s it for me.
00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:59.999
I… I got busted. They gonna put me away.
Since her arrest nine months ago,
00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:04.999
Latisha has been required to appear in court over 20 times
for progress reports on her drug treatment sentence.
00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:09.999
You doing okay? Ah! Yeah. All right.
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:14.999
I’m just nervous. Actually you
started here last July, right?
00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:19.999
Oh, yeah… yeah. And you had a number
of prior contacts at that time,
00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.999
you remember that? Yes. You did
the in-patience detox and rehab.
00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:29.999
Right. She has been sober, judge.
Also been… Sober.
00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:34.999
Clean and sober. Yes. You don’t say that.
00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:39.999
Just think about the difference
between your condition in July,
00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:44.999
when you have been arrested a number of
times and the drug problems that you had.
00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:49.999
Mm-hmm. That was bad. And now you’ve been clean ever since. Yeah. Yeah,
because of the baby. has (inaudible) drug, they take the baby away from me.
00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:54.999
Yeah. Okay, we’ll put it
on for May 23rd. Okay.
00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:59.999
I wish you the best of luck and you should
be very proud of the steps you’ve taken.
00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:04.999
The role of our traditional court is to
address the criminal conduct before,
00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:09.999
that’s the role of a traditional court. But the problem is
that a lot of other institutions in society have… have failed.
00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:14.999
The schools have failed,
you have jobless problems
00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:19.999
and people not getting any training. Everything else has failed
and now I have that person charged with a crime in the backdoor.
00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:24.999
Traditional courts have addressed
just a criminal conduct
00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:29.999
and that’s how you get the 10-day, the 20-day, the
30-day sentence, not looking behind the problem,
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:34.999
not looking to see what you really need so that the defendant
doesn’t come back before this court or any other court.
00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:39.999
[sil.]
00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.999
You feel close? I feel… Where
you wanna put the cake?
00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:49.999
I feel… So (inaudible). I’m gonna tell you something,
you look very beautiful today. You’re right.
00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:54.999
You do! You… you know, you
always look beautiful.
00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:59.999
I was a good girl when I was growing up.
I wasn’t bad.
00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.999
It all happen only (inaudible) my
30s that’s when I (inaudible).
00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:09.999
And I wasn’t thinking about
(inaudible) just getting (inaudible).
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:14.999
Latisha knows that the stakes are high.
She already lost custody of her two sons
00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:19.999
when she was incarcerated on Rikers Island from a previous
drug conviction. It all depends on her staying off drugs.
00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.999
Judge Calabrese will keep this case
open until the baby’s birth. Oh, man!
00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:29.999
I’m gonna sit on my chair now, right?
I’ve a (inaudible) little pillow.
00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:34.999
(inaudible) look… look, okay.
00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:39.999
When Latisha was using, she started working as a
prostitute in selling heroin from her apartment.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.999
She alienated her entire family
and most of her friends.
00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:49.999
Right now, the Justice Center is her main
source of support. What I really wanna do is?
00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.999
I wanna get my kids back. I love my children.
I made my mistake, but I love my children.
00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:59.999
(inaudible).
00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:04.999
[sil.]
00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:09.999
Leroy, Brett and others at Red
Hook reach out to Anthony,
00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.999
offering support above and beyond the formal
assistance of the Justice Center’s programs.
00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:19.999
They invite him to play in one of
their weekly basketball games.
00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:24.999
[sil.]
00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:29.999
I’m letting it. Uh-oh. He’s… he’s a
(inaudible)… He’s… he’s a (inaudible).
00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.999
Anthony, you know, he needs
to know someone like me now.
00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:39.999
We’re going to accept trying to help him.
00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.999
Then, we have to accept all the
baggage that comes along with him.
00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:49.999
And I think everything
(inaudible) down to Anthony.
00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:54.999
All we can do is provide the
foundation for him to bounce from.
00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:59.999
If he doesn’t take it, you know, there’s nothing we can
do. We’ll, you know, we’ll go on to the next person.
00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.999
[sil.]
00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:09.999
Hi! Is Catherine (inaudible)
or Sergeant Dare there?
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:14.999
Yeah! Umm… no, it’s Gerianne at Red Hook.
00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:19.999
DAs at Red Hook were closely with
the public defenders, the judge,
00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:24.999
an in-house service providers to
find alternatives to jail time.
00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:29.999
We have, I think 13 new cases. We have
possession… possession… possession… possession.
00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.999
Marijuana… marijuana and
two (inaudible) trespass.
00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:39.999
In a traditional court it’s
quite an adversarial process.
00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.999
A lot of what we do here is essentially
trying to help the defendants
00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:49.999
with a goal of getting them
to lead crime free lives.
00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:54.999
And I don’t think that people think about a
prosecutor’s role is helping the defendant in anyway.
00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:59.999
It’s helping the defendant that ultimately
helps the community and help society.
00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.999
George Campos is a heroin addict
charged with a felony burglary.
00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:09.999
In a traditional court, he might be
sentenced to up to a year in jail.
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:14.999
Uh… Wait a second, I
remember this defendant.
00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:19.999
This guy is a parole violator,
fairly recently off parole.
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:24.999
And he actually has an open
00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:29.999
misdemeanor assault here at Red Hook.
For one so young,
00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:34.999
he’s got an awful record.
00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:39.999
He definitely looks like an addict.
Any violation in drug treatment?
00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:44.999
Yes, he’s one that we’re
recommending for treatment.
00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:49.999
Let the defense attorney know too. Okay. So the
clinic can sort of start seeing him right away.
00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:54.999
Kristine Herman runs the drug
clinic at the Justice Center.
00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:59.999
While the DA decides how
to prosecute each case.
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:04.999
Kristine meet independently with defendants
to assess their prospects for treatment
00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:09.999
in order to make a
recommendation to the judge.
00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:14.999
Mr. Campos, come up and stand by me for again. I spoke to your
attorney. The DA’s office came to your attorney and to me.
00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:19.999
You basically have two options
in front of you and two alone
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.999
and you need to be honest with me about what
you’re gonna do about them and how you feel, okay?
00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:29.999
You’re either probably going to get one
year inpatience residential treatment,
00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:34.999
you’ll leave today. If you don’t choose
00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:39.999
that option for treatment,
it’s going to be jail.
00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:44.999
That’s not even a (inaudible) flavor. A year then inpatience
program. Residential like Phoenix House. What did you say?
00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:49.999
Ah! It’s still jail.
00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:54.999
Its… it’s… It’s still jail. It’s residential, I mean,
you’re not suppose to leave, but it’s treatment.
00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:59.999
But its jail. That’s a jail. You’re not
gonna… I’m not gonna go home today.
00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:04.999
I’m not gonna go nowhere today.
00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:09.999
Are you telling me you’re not interested
in that? That’s jail. No, that’s jail.
00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:14.999
Okay, I’m gonna talk to your lawyer.
I’ll see you upstairs.
00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:19.999
So I spoke to him. Okay.
00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:24.999
I said here’s deal. It’s probable that
you’re not going home today no matter what.
00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:29.999
So we’re talking treatment or jail. Mm-hmm. DA’s office looking for a
year in Phoenix Office. That’s right, yeah. Get residential. Mm-hmm.
00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:34.999
He is adamant. I don’t want that.
00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:39.999
Fine. I’m gonna go downstairs and talk to him
that David I know more the criminal stuff.
00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:44.999
What they’re gonna say they have, but he has an absolute right not to do treatment. So I’m gonna
move on the other (inaudible) now. You go to the other assessment, let me go downstairs. Okay.
00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:49.999
If it is a drug addiction
that’s causing their crime
00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:54.999
and you can get them… you can get
them into a drug treatment program
00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:59.999
and they kick that habit, they’re not gonna be out there stealing
pocketbooks, and stealing cars, and trespassing and buying drugs.
00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.999
My initial assessment is, he
is not ready to go inpatience.
00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:09.999
Does he want to quit? Yes. Does he want help?
Yes. He will flee if he goes to treatment today.
00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.999
And the bottom line is the only way that
we’re on board is if he’s going to be
00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:19.999
incarcerated until there’s a bed for him
at a long-term residential facility.
00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:24.999
He’s not gonna agree to that, but I’ll talk
to him again. Maybe (inaudible) talk to him
00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:29.999
and see if that or jail,
maybe he’ll agree to that.
00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:34.999
Its long-term and talking I… I was actually gonna say… A year? A
year not six months. Okay. I’m gonna talk to him again. (inaudible).
00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:39.999
Okay. Yeah, I mean, like I… I guess you’re okay with if he
says yes in front of the judge. He still not gonna do it.
00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.999
Kristine, there are people that’s… I
worked in Brooklyn (inaudible). I know.
00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:49.999
But once at least I thought…
00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:54.999
I know, so actually Phoenix House (inaudible) assess him. We are often the
ones that did. The ones that we had all the faith in (inaudible). Okay.
00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:59.999
(inaudible) Campos AKA George Campos
(inaudible). Now George Campos appears in court.
00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:04.999
The judge will make the final decision on
treatment or jail. This case has sort of some
00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:09.999
unusual circumstances. Based
on its defendant’s history
00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.999
umm… we believe the treatment
would be appropriate.
00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:19.999
The treatment mandate would be one year
in a long-term residential facility
00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:24.999
and that the jail alternative
would also be affirm one year.
00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:29.999
I had some more reservations uh… about whether
he would go along with a treatment plan,
00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:34.999
proposed by the clinic because the nature
of defendant’s record and chart here,
00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:39.999
I’m not convinced that the defendant would successfully complete
treatment. Sentence of the court is eight months in jail.
00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:44.999
George Campos’ eight month jail sentence
means that he’ll have to rely on programs
00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:49.999
within the prison system to address his drug
addiction. (inaudible) mental tension please.
00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:54.999
(inaudible).
00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:59.999
You, Anthony? yeah, ma’am.
00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:04.999
And he’s out of trouble. How are you doing, Brett? So let’s get
you park in court so we can get your case in and out of here.
00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:09.999
Anthony still hasn’t completed his
mandated drug treatment program,
00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:14.999
but the Red Hook Court isn’t ready to give up on
him. If you have any problems with the programs,
00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:19.999
the clinic, we’re here to help and here to find
a program that works with you, you got it?
00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:24.999
I just like to point out
just a word (inaudible)
00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:29.999
here in the court (inaudible) with community service and
he has been making some very positive steps in life.
00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:34.999
At some point
00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:39.999
if Mr. Taylor wanted you could actually be tested
for drugs etc. Anything you do will obviously work
00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.999
for your benefit on this case. Judge,
I don’t know if you’re aware of this,
00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:49.999
but he was tested yesterday and came up
negative. That a negative, congratulations!
00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:54.999
That’s a great step. So I’d like you
to come up and shake your hand.
00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:59.999
[sil.]
00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.999
Congratulations! Thank you. There you go.
Yeah, some style
00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:09.999
(inaudible) my life together. Yeah. So…
00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.999
Seventeen, you had your whole life. Okay, you could step back there. I hear the Mr. Ward’s
a good ballplayer. I know he’s got a lot of basketball ahead and a lot of work ahead.
00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:19.999
Says, he wants to teach
Officer Davis, a few moves.
00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:24.999
(inaudible).
00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:29.999
You loved me. (inaudible).
00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:34.999
You loved me! My grandmas (inaudible) the street is not good
for you, you gonna find yourself either dead or locked up.
00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:39.999
(inaudible) my grandmother had so much good news
about (inaudible) further go proud about it.
00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:44.999
Now it’s (inaudible) to me to do what I gotta do.
Take (inaudible) and start playing a (inaudible).
00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:53.000
[sil.]
00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:59.999
Your brother got arrested? Yeah.
For what? Umm… (inaudible).
00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:04.999
You guys keep smoking (inaudible).
I’ve been preaching to you guys.
00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:09.999
No, he was umm… he was going to the store, right.
Okay, how much do they catch on, you know?
00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:14.999
Umm… I think one bag. Okay. I think
(inaudible) police says (inaudible)
00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:19.999
half a news that, yesterday about two
o’clock in the afternoon on (inaudible)
00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.999
that you had some marijuana
and through it to the ground.
00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:29.999
Anthony’s older brother Michael is 18 years old. He’s in
court at coded Red Hook on a minor possession charge.
00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:34.999
He also faces a more serious charge, reckless
endangerment in Brooklyn’s downtown criminal court.
00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:39.999
…before he saw the weed on a ground, did he search you or
did he search you after he saw the weed on the ground.
00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:44.999
He searched me before and after.
00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:49.999
Before when he searched me (inaudible)
00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:54.999
when we both look down
together, he found it.
00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:59.999
We could find this case and make them show us why
they searched you. Okay, they’ve to (inaudible)
00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.999
what caused probable cause to
have a reason to search you.
00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:09.999
MM-hmm. Umm… To do that we gonna have to come to court
a few times and fight this case like that, all right.
00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:14.999
Uh… They may offer you a deal that you may want
to take. That you have a thing called an ACD,
00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:19.999
which means the case will be
dismissed outright in six months
00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:24.999
and sealed and they may say to you if
you attend this marijuana group class,
00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:29.999
we’ll dismiss and seal this case. (inaudible).
Okay, your brother’s a little worried about you.
00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:34.999
I think (inaudible) kinda drifting out
there, okay. And he wants me to try
00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:39.999
and help you to get some focus going
on in your life. I do need some help.
00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:44.999
Okay. We’ll then… And it’s good you have some family
members up there looking out for you, right? Mm-hmm. Okay.
00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:49.999
[sil.]
00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:54.999
(inaudible) docket ending 8-8-6.
00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:59.999
Michael Ward, defendant being charged with criminal possession
of marijuana and (inaudible) possession of marijuana.
00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:04.999
[sil.]
00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:09.999
Judge, at this time the people
are not going to make an offer.
00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:14.999
Uh… This defendant does have an open case.
(inaudible) endangerment charge.
00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:19.999
All right, but with regarding this marijuana case, I do
have a few questions. Are you in school or you are working?
00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:24.999
I’m going for a job (inaudible). Mr. Ward had told me he
would be interested in some of the job readiness training.
00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:29.999
All right, I’m not ready
to resolve this case.
00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:34.999
And (inaudible) resolved, people not ready,
I’m not ready to resolve this case Mr. Ward
00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:39.999
because I want to see that you’re
back on the right track. Okay,
00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:44.999
as conditions of release then they are stated. You’re gonna do youth
counseling today, they’re gonna sign you up for the marijuana group
00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:49.999
and the life choices group. The job readiness can start Monday.
I would consider dismissing this case. You may step out, okay.
00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:54.999
I will see you in the first row.
00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:59.999
(inaudible).
00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:04.999
You gotta keep an eye on him, on Michael, okay. Because right now, you know, a case he has downtown Mr.
Frank was just telling me, they’re looking for jail time on him right now. You know, I can tell him all
00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:09.999
that but you’re gonna have more influence on him. Yeah.
Okay, because he’s gonna respect you more than he than me,
00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:14.999
so you guys; you, your sister, your grandmother that’s
gonna keep pushing on him that he’s gotta do something
00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:19.999
to convince the DA not to offer him jail time
when (inaudible) at the end of the case, okay.
00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:24.999
Yeah. I think what really bothers people
about community court approach is?
00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:29.999
You’re deviating from normal patterns of
what courts and lawyers are supposed to be.
00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:34.999
A lot of people on the defense side want nothing
to do as community justice, they would think
00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:39.999
I’m a traitor for being involved in this. Listen, what
the judge told you to do is just one of these classes.
00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:44.999
Mm-hmm. The whole program is six classes.
What I wanna see you do is do
00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:49.999
all six, you know, why? They say,
you know, you’re not a lawyer,
00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:54.999
you’re a social worker. Umm… I say that
I’m setting people up for failure.
00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:59.999
Too early to say our clients getting screwed or not. At this point if you
ask me I think our clients are making out much better here. Monday morning.
00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:04.999
[sil.]
00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:09.999
Shortly before her next court date,
Latisha gives birth to her son.
00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:14.999
He tests free of drugs. Hey, boy!
A little boy.
00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:19.999
I (inaudible) again three
(inaudible) that it.
00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:24.999
He’s six pounds and 11 ounces.
00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:29.999
[sil.]
00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:34.999
Hey, you gonna have a lot
of girl friends, huh.
00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:39.999
So far everything is good. Everything as,
you know, what I’m saying everything.
00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:44.999
(inaudible) he’s all right.
00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:49.999
He was only… he’s not
even 24 hours born, John.
00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:54.999
Everybody makes mistakes and
I think we all got a chance,
00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:59.999
our life to change especially
if you really want to.
00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:04.999
The Red Hook Community Justice they
too give you chances, they do.
00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:09.999
Back in February, I said I wouldn’t end
the case until after you gave birth.
00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:14.999
Well, you satisfied that condition. Sort
of a strange court condition I guess,
00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:19.999
but I wanted to make sure that we were
covered all the way through. Okay,
00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:24.999
well, tell me how you doing? I’m feeling
good. I’m doing good. I’m still going to my
00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:29.999
umm… my program. Do you
need any more services?
00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:34.999
Umm… Maybe. Service in housing
problems (inaudible).
00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:39.999
Right across the hall we have a Housing Resource
Center. Still on felony probation? Yes, she it.
00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:44.999
You know, for somebody
who… who’s done everything
00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:49.999
that she’s done, do the people
consider an ACD in this case. No.
00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:54.999
How long… how long did you think about
that before answering no? Okay.
00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:59.999
What the judge is saying (inaudible)
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.999
you think of an ACD that means this case
gets dismissed, which is (inaudible).
00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:09.999
I still have someone who’s gonna remain on probation. The
real question is what’s a proper resolution for this case?
00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:14.999
I think this is the rare case that
deserves dismissal in the interest
00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:19.999
of justice and I’m gonna dismiss
this in the interests of justice.
00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:24.999
That part is over to people’s objection.
I want you to come up.
00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:29.999
I want to congratulate you. I congratulate her
first? Yeah, everybody wants to congratulate you.
00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:34.999
Congratulation on baby (inaudible).
00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:39.999
[sil.]
00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:44.999
This is my son (inaudible).
00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:49.999
You know, in the traditional court,
00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:54.999
defendants and their families are… are seen as outcasts,
community outcasts and they’re treated as… as such.
00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:59.999
Here, we recognize that defendants
are part of our community
00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:04.999
and they’re gonna o be part of our community when they
get arrested and they’re gonna be part of our community
00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:09.999
when the case is over. And to a certain extent, we’re all better
off, when we try to work with those defendants and their families.
00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:14.999
And today I’m here to talking to you and I’m not
back there, you know, how that I feel (inaudible).
00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:19.999
You should. Because I say to myself, ‘I’m taking
care of this baby’ and I’m going a good job.
00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:24.999
(inaudible). There you go.
00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:29.999
Almost anyone involved in making a living
00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:34.999
with people who have chronic substance abuse, for
example, I will tell you that abstinence is a goal
00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:39.999
that’s not expectation. (inaudible) a kiss.
00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:44.999
In other words, it’s a long-term commitment.
By definition, the community court
00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:49.999
has some limitations on what it can do on a long-term.
It handles the case from the beginning of the case
00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:54.999
to the end of the case, but it doesn’t
really handle a person’s long-term problems.
00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:59.999
He’s a big boy.
00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:04.999
[sil.]
00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:09.999
Hello, is Anthony in, please.
00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:14.999
Is this his grandmother? How are you doing
today? Do you know where he’s at today?
00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:19.999
Because I thought he was scheduled to
come to the training session today.
00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:24.999
Well, tell him to call me.
Okay, he’s got my card.
00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:29.999
And tell him, we’re just looking for him
and want to know how he’s doing, okay.
00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:34.999
All right, take care.
00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:39.999
Soon Anthony reappears. He’s been arrested and charged
with possession of a couple of vials of crack.
00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:44.999
What’s up? What’s happened?
00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:49.999
Not much. You got a case today.
I saw your brother yesterday.
00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:54.999
How’s the family? Not good.
00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:59.999
Something you wanna talk about?
(inaudible) talk about.
00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:04.999
(inaudible). (inaudible) talk about.
I’m not (inaudible).
00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:09.999
(inaudible) man. You… you… you’re coming here every
day, you know, and giving everybody an impression
00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:14.999
that you… you will be positive. Now you
say there’s nothing to talk about.
00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:19.999
Come on, man! Nothing
is guaranteed, nothing.
00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:24.999
You got to put out nothing to put out nothing (inaudible)
you put a positive effort, you get a positive feedback
00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:29.999
or you (inaudible) didn’t put those negative efforts and what you’ve be getting back, negative
effects (inaudible). You know, let me ask you something. You… do you wanna go to jail?
00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:34.999
If you screw (inaudible)
00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:39.999
you’re about to do 15 days or whatever the
hell is going to be done. You understand?
00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:44.999
Would you consider leaving and
going away from home and…
00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:49.999
and getting trying to get your (inaudible)
together? (inaudible) get out of my house.
00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:54.999
No… no… no… no. We’re talking
about getting out a project,
00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:59.999
getting out of this lifestyle. That’s not just
(inaudible) get out of my house. You… if you…
00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:04.999
I don’t (inaudible). Are you sure. Are you (inaudible)
you make that commitment to… to something like that?
00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:09.999
Yeah. I… yeah, I could.
00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:14.999
You know, that’s a decision you made and
just take into it (inaudible) you decide.
00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:19.999
All right, and only you can control it.
00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:24.999
Michael is back in court for an update.
00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:29.999
His more serious case downtown is
still pending. Judge Calabrese
00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:34.999
will close his case at Red Hook if Michael
can show that he’s on the right track.
00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:39.999
We did indicate that if he had a summer job, we
would have a favorable resolution of this case.
00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:44.999
What have you been doing
with most of your time?
00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:49.999
Hanging around. Waiting for
people to call me (inaudible).
00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:54.999
Where did you apply? McDonald’s.
00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:59.999
McDonald’s where? (inaudible). Right.
00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:04.999
Almost (inaudible) I’m about to put
another application in (inaudible) again.
00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:09.999
Did you get any feedback from any of
the places? They didn’t call me and I.
00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:14.999
I have no idea whether it (inaudible) hires,
but they might be hiring a number of people.
00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:19.999
(inaudible). But they are (inaudible).
They shutdown. They what?
00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:24.999
They shutdown. Shutdown. I’m
sorry about that. Okay,
00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:29.999
you just have to keep applying
and… applying and… applying,
00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:34.999
and then one person hires you to makes it all
worthwhile. By now you’d like to make this final
00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:39.999
and hopefully this will be final. July 19th. July
19th. I’m gonna talk to you in few minutes. Yeah.
00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:44.999
Tell me what’s going on?
00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:49.999
You guys have done much crap here to give
me a good (inaudible) from this judge.
00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:54.999
I got lost. You got lost so that’s it.
I’m (inaudible).
00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:59.999
Yeah, because (inaudible) waste of time. And you have
to say, ‘I’ve really want this.’ I want this so bad.
00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:04.999
I could taste this. I don’t want to hang with
these guys anymore. I don’t want to go to jail.
00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:09.999
I don’t want to go to court anymore. I just want to have
my own little life. But I haven’t seen that from you.
00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:14.999
I got two month times to do. What have you done? What
have you done? And you’re doing better than your brother.
00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:19.999
You read that. What’s that mean?
00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:24.999
What’s hat mean to you? I don’t know.
00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:29.999
Umm… You know, what that means?
People like to talk a big game
00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:34.999
and come here and they’ll say, ‘Oh,
yeah, I’m doing this… I’m doing this.
00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:39.999
And then what do you do? You do nothing.
Here’s another guy. Talks a good game,
00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:44.999
but won’t do anything to get out the (inaudible). Then
you show up on court day with a sad little dog face
00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:49.999
what made you stand in front of the judge and tell him
you’re doing well and then you go back home and do nothing.
00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:54.999
(inaudible) I worked real hard.
I’ve been patience. You know,
00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:59.999
if you were Lewis and Clark, you know, we wouldn’t
even be past the Mississippi River right now, okay.
00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:04.999
Now you don’t… don’t walk away man. I got
you guys on the hot seat here, okay.
00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:09.999
You walk out of here and go right back to your house and watch TV, hang on a
streets, if your boys and complain that no one is doing anything for you.
00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:14.999
That’s not how the world works.
(inaudible) going to go out
00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:19.999
and actually get involved in something. You know what I’m saying the
stuff to you guys, right. You know, why I’m saying this to you? Why?
00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:24.999
I’ll do because you love us. Okay. And you don’t
want to see us in jail. Okay. What do you think?
00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:29.999
Why you think I’m coming down on you?
The thing because I don’t like you.
00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:34.999
(inaudible) you’re cool. All right, okay.
00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:43.000
[sil.]
00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:49.999
We’ve had two cases with Anthony?
A lot of people would
00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:54.999
look at how his cases were handled in Red Hook and
say, ‘What the hell were you guys doing to this boy?’
00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:59.999
Why are you making him come to court 23 times? This case
should have been settled one, two court appearances?
00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:04.999
Well, I can pretty much guarantee,
if Anthony had come down through
00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:09.999
the downtown courts, they would have given him five days
community service. He will not done the community service
00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:14.999
(inaudible) picked him up he would
have gone 10 to 15 days jail.
00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:19.999
He would’ve walked out of that case had been over. And
he would probably have had a few more arrests by now.
00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:24.999
Maybe more serious arrests.
00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:29.999
That girl that’s playing ball right there,
00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:34.999
number… number 14, that’s my sister.
00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:39.999
Oh, 15-03. Michael finally lands a job
to a training program in Red Hook
00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:44.999
and Judge Calabrese dismisses his case.
Meanwhile,
00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:49.999
Anthony continues to miss his
mandated drug treatment sessions.
00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:54.999
[sil.]
00:43:55.000 --> 00:43:59.999
In this couple, we have this almost religious
belief in the power of deterrence.
00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:04.999
And what we know about uh… human beings
is that there’s a lot of complexity
00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:09.999
to the way people actually
work out their lives
00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:14.999
and that’s the human nature. So in a way you build a court system
with the expectation that people are gonna fail at high rates.
00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:19.999
And then if you’re working with a group of people that are
failing at high rates, you’re working with the right population.
00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:24.999
From the (inaudible) calendar
docket ending 3-0-8-8 Anthony Ward.
00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:29.999
(inaudible) for an update.
00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:34.999
The defendant pled guilty to a B misdemeanor. (inaudible)
conditional plea condition that he complete a treatment mandate.
00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:39.999
Uh… Your honor, based on the
defendant’s noncompliance,
00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:44.999
the people are asking that he’ll be given a
minimum of 100 days jail for noncompliance.
00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:49.999
Judge, I don’t think you could give me 100 days on
a B misdemeanor… Let me… let me hear from… from
00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:54.999
uh… Mr. Ward, whose now 18. It… it seems
like everyone at the Justice Center
00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:59.999
makes a lot of effort to
help you and the only person
00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:04.999
who’s not put in any effort is you.
And I want to know if you agree
00:45:05.000 --> 00:45:09.999
and then if you do then I want to know why?
00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:14.999
(inaudible) There’s no excuse for me. You’re 18.
Your behavior now deserves certain consequences.
00:45:15.000 --> 00:45:19.999
I think you should listen to this part.
Okay. I’m not…
00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:24.999
They’re asking for 90 days jail. They’re saying
judge can finish the case, give him maximum time.
00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:29.999
I could do 90 days jail right now
absolutely no problem legally.
00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:34.999
But I’m not willing to give up on you. I’m not gonna send you to jail
for 90 days. I’m… I’m sentencing you in jail for the rest of today,
00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:39.999
tomorrow, Sunday a part of Monday.
You would be released Monday
00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:44.999
and on Tuesday I want you back here and I’m
gonna want to hear what you’re gonna do.
00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:49.999
If you don’t get your GED, if you don’t get
some training, you’re not gonna have a job.
00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:54.999
(inaudible). Judge, what Mr. Ward’s
requesting, uh… he would like an opportunity
00:45:55.000 --> 00:45:59.999
if you want to sanction him to do extensive community
service here in lieu of the remand for the weekend.
00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:04.999
Uh… Mr. Ward has shown up numerous
times on this court case,
00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:09.999
I know, he is not doing everything
the court is requiring of him,
00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:14.999
however on his behalf, it does
speak well that he does show up
00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:19.999
and answer these charges every time,
he’s required to come to court.
00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:24.999
Remand 1119AP6 to be adjourned to 11:20.
00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:29.999
(inaudible).
00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:34.999
Mr. Ward, it’s a question of you understanding
there are consequences for your actions
00:46:35.000 --> 00:46:39.999
and you don’t understand it.
You’ve been told it
00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:44.999
and now you have to understand that I hate to say probably the
hardest way and that jail time. I’ll see you on the 20th,
00:46:45.000 --> 00:46:49.999
there’s nothing else just go ahead.
00:46:50.000 --> 00:46:54.999
If I’m late one time then I… I take the whole 90
days in jail. I take the whole 90 days in jail.
00:46:55.000 --> 00:46:59.999
If I miss one time or if I’m late one time
(inaudible) and this is (inaudible) want that.
00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:04.999
Please, sir… please, I don’t…
00:47:05.000 --> 00:47:09.999
The answer… the answer Mr. Ward is no.
00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:14.999
[sil.]
00:47:15.000 --> 00:47:19.999
Ah! Such a good kid, it’s frustrating.
00:47:20.000 --> 00:47:24.999
And the thing about our punishment system
00:47:25.000 --> 00:47:29.999
is that it… it imposes a
punishment… that it’s done.
00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:34.999
And the thing about our system that’s
built about trying to make places
00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:39.999
better places is that it takes two
steps forward and one step back.
00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:44.999
One is really easy to do and the
other is not so easy to do.
00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:49.999
Anthony spends the weekend in jail. His case
continues to drag on with no resolution in sight.
00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:54.999
[sil.]
00:47:55.000 --> 00:47:59.999
Oh, I just resolved two bad cases today
00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:04.999
so it takes you some
patience and some effort.
00:48:05.000 --> 00:48:09.999
Sometimes in this job, you have some successes
and then there’s a lot of times in this job
00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:14.999
where you say, ‘Why am I doing this?’ When you see the
same person getting arrested four, five, six times.
00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:19.999
It’s Paul and Steve, my good
old buddies I started with.
00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:24.999
A month after Anthony’s released from jail, Brett
resigned from his job at the Justice Center.
00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:29.999
I just have a need to do
something different in my life.
00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:34.999
I’m going to Arizona and gonna be playing in the stock
market. So… Best of luck. Thanks. Enjoy yourself.
00:48:35.000 --> 00:48:39.999
I think it’s still way too early
to say, ‘We’re a success.’
00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:44.999
If this is something different, the
community courts with different approach
00:48:45.000 --> 00:48:49.999
that dealing with some of these low-level
crimes, then you have to gauge your success
00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:54.999
different than you are from the
traditional model too. Okay,
00:48:55.000 --> 00:48:59.999
be good. Okay.
00:49:00.000 --> 00:49:04.999
I think in four or five years will be the turning point to
see if more of these courts are opening or not. Bye-bye.
00:49:05.000 --> 00:49:10.000
[sil.]
00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:19.999
[sil.]
00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:24.999
Anthony has gotten a job.
00:49:25.000 --> 00:49:29.999
Today, he’ll find out his final sentence.
All right, are you still working? Yes.
00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:34.999
(inaudible)? Yes. How’s it going? Good…
00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:39.999
The matter is not for sentencing
that people have a recommendation.
00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:44.999
Unfortunately, there has been
considerable noncompliance
00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:49.999
based on these factors,
00:49:50.000 --> 00:49:54.999
the people’s recommendation is that the defendant
be sentenced to a conditional discharge.
00:49:55.000 --> 00:49:59.999
Anything you wanna say (inaudible)?
00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:04.999
I know I’ve been doing (inaudible) in my
life, but there’s reason for everything.
00:50:05.000 --> 00:50:09.999
I think about (inaudible), but it
taught me a lot of (inaudible)
00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:14.999
and I think I’m ready for my
case to be closed. You’re still
00:50:15.000 --> 00:50:19.999
at a crossroads in your life. I think
if you decide not to sell drugs,
00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:24.999
if you decide to stay with (inaudible), you
could start a family, you can be around
00:50:25.000 --> 00:50:29.999
and watch your children go up. There a lot of people at this
Justice Center who are rooting for you to do the right thing.
00:50:30.000 --> 00:50:34.999
Sentence of the court, he’s a period of probation
for one year and youthful offender adjudication.
00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:39.999
What youthful offender means is that
if you decide to stay out of trouble,
00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:44.999
you will not have a criminal record.
You could still go to any job
00:50:45.000 --> 00:50:49.999
and you will not have to tell them that you’ve
convicted of a crime. Do you understand? Yes.
00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:54.999
That’s very important. That is the
sentence of the court. He may step out.
00:50:55.000 --> 00:50:59.999
I’ve seen a lot of respect from this
building since (inaudible) walked ahead.
00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:04.999
If it was another court, then
I’d be locked out (inaudible).
00:51:05.000 --> 00:51:09.999
The case finally is over I
just a little probation
00:51:10.000 --> 00:51:14.999
and just stick with it, get it over.
00:51:15.000 --> 00:51:19.999
I just hope (inaudible)
it will all backfire on.
00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:28.000
[music]
00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:34.999
As it works to address Red
Hook’s multiple challenges,
00:51:35.000 --> 00:51:39.999
the Justice Center has added family
and housing cases to its target.
00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:44.999
This new court is yet to prove that it can stop
recidivism and get at the root causes of crime,
00:51:45.000 --> 00:51:49.999
but the model is beginning to spread.
00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:54.999
Twenty six community courts have opened in cities across the
United States including Heartwood, Atlanta and Los Angeles,
00:51:55.000 --> 00:51:59.999
and nine more are in the planning stages.
00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:04.999
After 13 months away, Brett Taylor
returned to the Justice Center
00:52:05.000 --> 00:52:09.999
and as usual heavy caseload.
Michael still lives in Red Hook,
00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:14.999
although he’s unemployed again. His case
downtown was closed with no criminal charges
00:52:15.000 --> 00:52:19.999
and he stayed out of trouble since then.
Latisha had another baby,
00:52:20.000 --> 00:52:24.999
a girl, but she also had a relapse and her two
youngest children were placed in foster care.
00:52:25.000 --> 00:52:29.999
She completed another treatment program and
is working to regain custody of her children.
00:52:30.000 --> 00:52:34.999
Anthony made it through his one-year
probation and has left Red Hook.
00:52:35.000 --> 00:52:39.999
He is the proud father of a baby boy and
has been working for a moving company.
00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:45.000
When he’s in his old neighborhood, he
stops by to visit at the Justice Center.
